IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT, CRIMINAL DIVISION

Transcription

1 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT, CRIMINAL DIVISION PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Trial Decorum Order v. Case No. 12 CR BRIAN CHURCH, JARED CHASE, Honorable Thaddeus L. Wilson, BRENT BETTERLY, Judge Presiding Defendants. TRIAL DECORUM ORDER In the interest of justice, for the safety of individuals attending the proceedings of the aforementioned case, and to preserve the dignity of the court and the integrity of the proceedings, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: A. GENERAL PUBLIC/SPECTATORS 1. No cameras, tape recorders, video recorders, camcorders, laptop, or other computers, cellular phones, personal digital assistants, satellite phones or any other manual or electronic device capable of recording video, audio, or still images, or any device capable of recording video, audio, or still images, nor any device capable of transmitting any visual or audio representation or actual image or sound shall be permitted in the courtroom, accept as otherwise provided in this Order. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 1 of 8

2 2. No bags, packages, briefcases, purses, pocketbooks, boxes or any other container shall be brought into the courtroom and large coats and personal belongings will not be allowed to take up seating space. 3. Anyone failing to occupy their seat in the courtroom by at least twenty minutes before court is scheduled may forfeit the seat for the duration of the day s proceedings. 4. No observers shall be permitted to enter the courtroom while court is in session. Entry shall be made only before court convenes and during announced breaks in the proceedings, accept as provided for court personnel, judges and security. 5. No interviews, press conferences, speeches, or public addresses shall be held in the courtroom at any time, whether or not court is in recess. 6. No disruptions, interferences, outbursts, public demonstration, loud or intrusive noises or distractions shall be permitted in the trial courtroom at any time. Anyone who does not comply with this condition will be immediately removed from the courtroom and may forfeit access for the duration of the case. 7. All persons in the courtroom must remain silent during all proceedings. There will be no talking, noise making, standing, kneeling, waving, hand raising or other conduct of solidarity, camaraderie, protest, approval or disapproval in the courtroom or in the hallway outside of the courtroom. 8. There will be no reading of newspapers, magazines, books, or other materials in the courtroom. 9. Signs, posters, banners and the like (whether in support or opposition to any side or cause are prohibited from being brought in the courtroom or the courthouse. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 2 of 8

3 10. The atmosphere in the courtroom must be quiet, calm, and deliberative. 11. Anyone who does not comply with all conditions of this order may forfeit access to the courtroom for the duration of the case. B. MEDIA 1. All members of the media, including reporters, photographers, videographers, and audio technicians shall be permitted only in designated media areas for this case. 2. Members of the media shall be prohibited from entering all unauthorized areas as designated by the Sheriff, within and around the Leighton Criminal Court Building and the Cook County Department of Corrections. 3. Still and video photographers shall only be permitted in the designated media area inside the Leighton Criminal Court Building first floor lobby, adjacent to the Information Desk. 4. All interviews and press conferences shall be conducted in designated areas only. 5. Loitering in the area outside of the courtroom shall not be permitted by the media or members of the general public. 6. Members of the media shall not impede the flow of normal court traffic throughout the building for the duration of the trial. 7. All wiring and cabling shall be arranged in a manner that does not prohibit the movement of pedestrian traffic, court personnel with file carts, and individuals in wheelchairs from moving about the courthouse. 8. Members of the media shall display official court or media credentials at all times. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 3 of 8

4 9. Seats in the gallery of the courtroom reserved for the media shall only be assigned to approved media agencies and representatives. 10. Seating reserved for members of the media may be rescinded, restricted, or otherwise modified as ordered by the Court. 11. Members of the media covering this trial may bring one phone into the courtroom; however, it must be turned off or set to silent (not merely set to vibrate mode and placed so as not to be distractive. Written/text transmissions from these devices are allowed by those with approved media credentials visible. Audio and video recordings and/or transmissions of any kind or means are strictly prohibited. Any person who operates a non-approved device will have the device confiscated by court security and may be held in contempt of court. 12. Members of the media who do not have a seat in the gallery of the courtroom may read the transcript of the proceedings in the overflow observation room. The room is located on the fourth floor of the Administration Building. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 4 of 8

5 C. COURTROOM RULES 1. All persons who enter the courtroom, including members of the media, shall be subject to security screening. The Cook County Sheriff, or his designee, has discretion as to whether a person may be admitted in the courtroom depending on the results of the screening. Court approved security and court personnel shall be exempted from this rule. 2. The Cook County Sheriff, or his designee, shall implement all security measures outlined by this Order and may require registration by spectators one day in advance of attendance of court proceedings. 3. All members of the public and media must be seated before the court is in session and must remain seated in the courtroom until the next recess is called. If a seated person chooses to leave the courtroom, they will not be readmitted until the next court recess. 4. No prejudicial or inflammatory logos, insignia or paraphernalia of any kind shall be worn on any person or clothing while in the courthouse or courtroom. 5. All members of the media and public, including sketch artists, are prohibited from drawing any facial features, jewelry, clothing, or other distinguishing features of jurors before, during, and following the conclusion of the trial. 6. No members of the media or public shall be permitted beyond the railing/seating separating the courtroom gallery from the litigation area/well of the courtroom. 7. No interviews by anyone or of any kind shall be conducted in the courtroom at any time, whether or not court is in recess. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 5 of 8

6 D. JUROR CONTACT, PRIVACY AND SECURITY 1. No member of the media or public shall attempt to communicate with a member of the jury panel, juror, or alternate, respecting the case prior to return of a final judgment in the trial on the merits, and any attempt by anyone without permission by the Court to communicate with or influence a member of the jury once selected as a juror or alternate in the proceedings, until the return of a final judgment in the trial on the merits, may be punished as a criminal cause of action and/or as criminal contempt of court and such other actions as deemed by the Court to be necessary for due and proper administration of justice. 2. No member of the media or public may release or publicize the names of prospective jurors or seated jurors unless ordered by the Court. 3. No person shall attempt to influence any unexcused prospective juror who has been summoned on this case. 4. No unexcused prospective juror, or any seated juror or alternate once selected, shall communicate with any person on this case concerning any subject matter related to this trial by any means. This includes by cellular telephone, Blackberry, iphone, PDA or similar devices; through , text messaging, instant messaging, or other real-time direct communication service; through any blog, website or portal; through any internet chat room, or by way of any other social networking websites or applications, including, but not limited to, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Flickr, Skype, YouTube, FaceTime, Snapchat, and Cyber Dust. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 6 of 8

7 5. No unexcused prospective juror participating in the jury selection process on this case or any seated juror or alternate once selected, shall give an interview to any journalist. 6. No person identifiable as an excused prospective juror shall be photographed, filmed, or interviewed while in the Leighton Criminal Court Building, its courtrooms or jury assembly area. 7. In order to expeditiously complete the jury selection process, a maximum number of jurors will be seated in the courtroom during the selection process. This necessarily limits the number of seats afforded the public and media. Representatives of the media may be selected by the media to attend the jury selection process. Seats will be equitably divided amongst the public and print, broadcast, radio and wire media services, as best possible. 8. Names, addresses, personally identifiable information and questionnaires of prospective jurors shall be deemed confidential. 9. No person shall publicly identify any unexcused juror, seated juror, or alternate juror once selected, by name in connection with this case. NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 7 of 8

8 E. SANCTIONS THERE ARE NO WARNINGS. This Order is not exhaustive of all conduct not allowed in the courtroom. Anyone who is unclear as to whether their conduct would be a violation of this Order should exercise all caution and leave the courtroom. Any violation of the foregoing or other court orders or plans, and any conduct the Court finds disruptive or interruptive of the proceedings may result in: 1. An order of temporary or permanent exclusion of the offender from the courtroom and security areas. 2. An order of temporary or permanent exclusion of the media organization represented by the offender from the courtroom or security areas. 3. Contempt of Court sanctions, including but not limited to jail and/or monetary penalties. 4. Such other sanctions as deemed necessary by the Court to ensure the due and proper administration of justice. 5. Notice of this Order shall be given by its posting on the Circuit Court website ( outside of the courtroom and/or read in open court before the start of trial. However, the lack of actual notice of this Order shall not be an excuse. DATED: January 16, 2014 ENTERED: Hon. Thaddeus L. Wilson Circuit Court of Cook County Criminal Division NATO Trial Decorum Order Page 8 of 8